It has been a century since south african and other soldiers lost their lives in world war i. In 1915, the defence forces established the south african overseas expeditionary force for war service outside southern africa. Researching individuals in ww1 records start your research. The capture of german south west africa as part of the start of world war one, by south africa, had a profound impact on the next 100 years of south africa s history. South african world war ii participants geni family tree. Hertzog wanted south africa to remain neutral, but smuts opted for joining the british war effort. Hoping to add further subprojects for pows held in egypt, libya. Canadians in the boer war several databases here commonwealth war graves commission over 1 million records pre and post ww2 south african or rhodesian casualties serving with british units buried in or believed to be buried in the united kingdom. Jul, 2016 it has been a century since south african and other soldiers lost their lives in world war i. South africa, military index, 1853 search historical records. When britain declared war on germany on september 3, 1939, the united party split. About 334,000 men volunteered for fulltime service in the south african army during the war including some 211,000 white, 77,000 black and 46,000 coloured and indian servicemen.
Ninety percent of african americans lived in the south, most trapped in lowwage occupations, their daily lives shaped by restrictive jim crow laws and threats of violence. Soldiers who fought in world war one and world war two record cards, personal files. What began as a seemingly distant european conflict soon became an event with revolutionary implications for the social, economic, and political future of black people. Whilst its invasion was important to the outcome of ww1, its period as a protectorate of south africa s after the war had a longer and more profound impact. The british and german governments and especially the white settler communities in east and south africa did not like the idea of encouraging african men to fight europeans, so they mostly recruited african. The colonial secretary, lord harcourt, readily accepted bothas offer and enquired whether south african forces might seize ports in the neighbouring german colony of south west africa s.
National archives of south africa nasa database selection. World war i 19171918 edit edit source officers of the 366th infantry regiment returning home from wwi service. South africa and the german east africa campaign union of. The 6th south african armoured division was the second armoured division of the south african army and was formed during world war ii. To find links to collections for lower jurisdictions such as a county, town, or parish, go to locating online databases.
Gendata of the south african genealogical society on gravestones. Sa field artillery, the 1st and 2nd sa mounted brigades, the 2nd and 3rd sa infantry brigades, and the cape corps fought in british operations against german forces in german east africa now tanzania from january 1916 until the war in africa ended on 25 november 1918. Pre angloboer war 1853 1898 various attestation forms, muster and medal rolls are accessible, as are citations relating to awards to south africans. Nov 15, 2018 researching individuals in ww1 records start your research. One major problem faced by the south african government was a rebellion by progerman forces led by colonel maritz, commander of the frontier forces. If you are a new visitor to the site please take a few minutes to read about our work and an explanation of the site below. Furthermore, the south african war experience also differed due to the. Visit the website below for details of how to do this and what you can find.
As the largest repository of american world war i records, the national archives invites you to browse the wealth of records and information documenting the u. The war militarypolice dead of south africa and rhodesia came from many walks of life. The commonwealth war graves commission has records of 11,023 known south africans who died during world war ii. South africa online genealogy records familysearch wiki.
World war i was a transformative moment in africanamerican history. Collections in the archives world war i and the south african native labour contingent. But i got reply saying i needed to give his army number and date of birth. The division was disbanded on 1 january 1943, for conversion into what would become the 6th south african. African manpower statistics for the british forces in east africa, 19141918. The unit originated as the infantry branch of the union defence forces in 19. The world record for the oldest active commercial pilot was set by reginald. Websitesedit second world war dead soldiers in african forces. African languages include kiswahili spoken in east africa, luganda spoken in uganda, lingala congo, zulu south africa, and tigre for eritrea.
Nearly all men between the ages of 1845 registered during the years the draft was implemented, about 23% of the u. World war i and the south african native labour contingent. South african service records soldiers and their units great war. The south african is an independent, no agenda and bias online news platform that gives the latest news updates. The impact of the first world war on south african blacks by albert grundlingh. National archives of south africa nasa naairs database selection. During the first world war, smuts formed the south african defence force. During world war ii the division served in the east african campaign from 1940 to 1941 and in the western desert campaign north african campaign from 1941 to 1942. South african armed forces of world war one 19141918.
How big was the south african army during world war 1. World war 2 officially started on september 1, 1939, after germany invaded poland, and it continued until 1945 when both japan and germany surrendered. They are able to carry out research in the following areas medals, decorations and awards issued by the south african police and the south african defence force record cards and personal files where available copies can be provided. What are the different hardware that will be needed by producer of.
Spies, the outbreak of the first world war and the botha government, south african historical journal, 1, 1969, pp. All archives repositories and national registers of nonpublic records. War one and world war two record cards, personal files. Honouring south africans who fought in world war i brand. At the battle of delville, one of the engagements of the battle of the. During this era the south african poet mongane wally serote remarked. Group captain a g sailor malan, a south african who became a world war 2 flying ace during the battle of britain and finished the war with 35 aerial victories.
World war one dramatically changed relationships between south africa and europe. Researching individuals in ww1 records national archives. South african blacks and the first world war johannesburg, 1987, passim. South africa online genealogy records this chart shows links to countrywide collections.
German east africa world war 1 colonial warfare i the. Hi thanks to the kindness of maxd i was able to get the service records for a south african soldier. In memory of african soldiers in world war 1 daily nation. Barrow 8th south african infantry, id be more than willing to return the favour for with a search for a british serviceman at the pro. Red troops, both men and women, ready for deportation from hango, in april of 1918.
About south africa, military index, 1853 2004 this index consists of south african military records extracted from various sources. Sailor malan was one of the most successful pilots of the war and won both the dso distinguished. His first task was to suppress the maritz rebellion. South africa fought as part of the allied forces during the first world war. Can someone tell me if it is possible to access wwii records for south african soldiers and if so where does one go. Jun 06, 2015 south africa in ww1 i the great war special feat. Just 21 years after the last global war, the world was drawn into an even greater conflict.
World war i wwi or ww1, also known as the first world war, was a global war centred in europe that began on 28 july 1914 and lasted until 11 november 1918. South african military history society south african. This index consists of south african military records extracted from various sources. Previously the contribution of black soldiers was sidelined. There were many individual regiments that served under this unit. Welcome to the south africa war graves project online database. World war ii service records and or death certificates. Gun crew from regimental headquarters company, 23rd infantry, firing 37 mm gun during an advance on german entrenched positions. As records become public, our collections have grown to include millions of names and photos.
South african national archives records of births deaths and property ownership in general plus some military service records before about 19. We have a few ww1 and ww2 civilian casualties whose deaths were due to enemy action. The use of flight in the african campaigns of world war 1. Unit information transcribed from the medal index cards includes every unit or corps listed on an individuals card. Joe samuels, a south african veteran of the great war by bill nasson. South african troops in europe and the middle east union of south. Military records in south africa south africa ancestors. World war ii service records and or death certificates south.
South africa history, capital, flag, map, population. The priority for the young union was to protect its borders and realise the expansionist desires each of the unions constituent parts had had from before union. List of south african soldiers in world war 2 answers. About 334,000 men volunteered for fulltime service in the south african army during the war including some 211,000 whites, 77,000 blacks and 46,000 coloureds and indians. Jun 30, 2003 if any south african or any other nationality for that matter would be kind enough to look up ww1 service papers for pte. I m going to follow a rough chronology and will mention plane specifications. Italian campaign the 6th south african armoured division served in the italian campaign under the command of the british 8th army. Apr 27, 2014 german troops in finland during the finnish civil war, part of a series of conflicts spurred on by world war i. Search the first world war army medal index cards wo 372 for a soldier.
All the records have been digitized and are available in the series b2455 to search and download for free. Unlike other african colonies, south africa had a large european population, making up about 20% of the whole, but it was deeply divided between english and afrikaner communities. Sanlc headquarters were based in rouen, the records office and a. National archives and records service of south africa, head office email. Abbreviations used in the first world war medal index cards these abbreviations are taken from the collector and researchers guide to the great war by howard williamson, with kind permission of the author. Pre angloboer war 1853 1898 various attestation forms, muster and medal rolls are accessible, as are citations relating to awards to south. South africa military records genealogy familysearch wiki. South africa entered world war i when britains ultimatum to germany expired on 4 august 1914. On the outbreak of war in august 1914, the country was split between those who supported the war and those who were deeply antibritish. Faulds was one of 8 south african recipients of the victoria cross from the first.
Military history of south africa during world war ii. The union of south africa now the republic of south africa was established in 1910, after a period of reconstruction following the angloboer war of 18991902. Details most often include name, rank, record date, and regiment or unit but may also include any of the following. South africa and world war one history learning site. Military history of south africa during world war ii wikipedia. More than 100 million soldiersincluding 16 million americansfought in wwii. British empire in world war ii during world war ii, many south africans saw military service. You might find your south african ancestors name, address, and phone number in these directories. Service records of men and women who served in the australian imperial force aif during the first world war are archived in the australian national archives. More than a million african soldiers fought for colonial powers in world war ii.
Look in wo 126 and wo 127 for records of units raised in south africa which. The apartheid regime was disdained and even vehemently opposed by much of the world community, and by the mid1980s south africa found itself among the worlds pariah states, the subject of economic and cultural boycotts that affected almost every aspect of life. The refurbishment of the delville wood south african national memorial in france means that every south african soldier who fought is now honoured. Killed on active service in air crash 14th may, 1942. The warmilitarypolice dead of south africa and rhodesia came from many walks of life. Much as the focus of first world war commemoration for white south africa.
South african war, 18991902 service files, medals and land. World war 1 archives south african military veterans. South africa saw major action in german east africa. Surnames ar name date of death other information sergeant bernard t. World war i wwi, which was predominantly called the world war or the great war from its occurrence until 1939, and the first world war or world war i thereafter, was a major war centred in europe that began on 28 july 1914 and lasted until 11 november 1918. Unit information transcribed from the medal index cards includes every unit.
The 2nd south african infantry division also took part in a number of actions in north africa. Of the 334,000 men volunteered for full time service in the south african army during the war including some 211,000 whites, 77,000 blacks and 46,000 cape coloureds and asians, about 9,000 were killed in action, though the commonwealth war graves commission has records of 11,023 known south african war dead during world war ii. Are you looking for military records in south africa. Apr 01, 2020 gun crew from regimental headquarters company, 23rd infantry, firing 37 mm gun during an advance on german entrenched positions. Record keeping did not always take place optimally and a number of troops. Does anyone know how to get hold of south african records 2nd. South african overseas expeditionary force wikipedia. Subprojects for more specialised interests will be added when possible. The union of south africa entered the first world war in midseptember 1914 after.
Get the details on your immigrant ancestors arrival in south africa with this immigration index. You may first want to search the ww1 draft registration cards for basic information on individuals see draft cards section below. The union of south africa participated with other british commonwealth forces in battles in north africa against erwin rommel and his afrika korps, and many south african pilots joined the royal air force and fought against the axis powers in the european theatre. South africa war graves project over 17,500 war grave photographs. The south africa roll of honour 19141918 records the names of over 11,000 south. Since then i have tried to get for a w h wheatley, 2nd cwo in the south african service corps. African american military records familysearch wiki.
The south african native labour contingent, 19161918 in the journal of african history, vol. During the east african campaign world war i, there was strong south african participation and leadership. Schweikert building20 visagie streetpretoriatelephone. The use of flight in the african campaigns of world war 1 dr anne samson the topic of flight in world war 1 africa is a little messy but hopefully by the end of this talk, we ll all have a clearer idea of what it entailed. The guinness world records is the universally recognized authority on recordbreaking achievement. Soldiers in african forces under british control the national archives. This community uses the south africa roll of honour 19141918, available as an evidence source on lives. Still, many african americans eagerly volunteered to join the allied cause following americas entry into the war. The south african infantry corps is the largest combat corps within the south african army. Also where can i obtain a south african death world war ii service records and or death certificates south africa page 1 rootschat. South africa in world war one, 31 october 2018 south.
A lot of the records you will see will have a cause of death as died on active service. The most impressive monument for african victims of the world war i 19141918 is not to be found in africa but in france. Sabnational archives repository public records of central government since 1910. Infantry, artillery, services, mounted units, engineering units, medical units, motor cycle corps, british and imperial units, etc. Sep 21, 2018 fifty years after the end of the civil war, the nations 9. African americans and world war i chad williams hamilton college. The south africa roll of honour 19141918 records the names of over 11,000 south african born soldiers who died during the first world war between 1914 and 1918. Online world war i indexes and records usaa genealogy guide online world war i indexes and records usa note.